Professor Victor Wutor has expressed concerns over the increasing use of herbal aphrodisiacs and alcohol-based bitters, warning that their misuse poses serious health risks including kidney failure, liver damage, stroke and other cardiovascular complications.

He said the widespread consumption and aggressive advertising of such products are contributing to unhealthy self-medication practices and placing additional pressure on Ghana’s healthcare system.

In an interview on Class FM’s morning show, he explained that many herbal bitters are not standardized, meaning different manufacturers use varying quantities of herbs and alcohol, resulting in inconsistent concentrations of active ingredients.

According to him, consumers often have no way of knowing the strength or dosage of the products they are taking, increasing the risk of overdosing and harmful side effects.

The expert also rejected the common belief that herbal or natural products are automatically safe, stressing every medicinal product contains active ingredients capable of producing both therapeutic effects and adverse reactions.

He noted that alcohol used in preparing herbal mixtures extracts numerous chemical compounds from plants, many of which may have unknown or harmful effects on the body.

He attributed the increasing reliance on aphrodisiacs partly to societal pressure on men to prove their masculinity through sexual performance resulting from misconceptions that their partners may leave them if they fail to sexually satisfy them.

He also pointed out the stigma associated with seeking professional medical care for sexual health conditions.

Prof. Victor further criticised what he described as judgmental attitudes among some healthcare professionals, saying such behaviour discourages patients from seeking appropriate medical advice and treatment.

He warned that prolonged use of alcohol-based herbal aphrodisiacs could damage the kidneys and liver, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and interact dangerously with prescribed medicines, particularly drugs used to manage high blood pressure.

He added that combining antihypertensive medication with herbal products that also lower blood pressure could cause blood pressure to drop excessively, potentially leading to fainting, stroke and other life-threatening complications.

The expert urged the public to seek medical evaluation regarding their sexual health instead of relying on unregulated herbal mixtures and self-medication, emphasising that proper diagnosis and treatment are the safest approaches.